Gunners boss Wenger has played Gervinho through the middle this season.

But
the Frenchman has insisted that he will give Walcott his chance to shine up front, which could help keep him out of the grasp of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Wenger admitted: “I have no set date in my mind about Theo Walcott, but I will try it.”

The Gunners chief believes he can hammer out a new contract with Walcott and fresh talks are planned for next week.

Adapting the old adage about no news being good news, Wenger added: “No progress is good progress.”

Wenger has also claimed that Aaron Ramsey will one day regain the Wales captaincy.

Mike Hewitt

Lost the armband: Aaron Ramsey has been stripped of the Wales captaincy

Wales boss Chris Coleman has stripped Gunners midfielder Ramsey of the armband and given it to Swansea defender Ashley Williams after the Dragons' embarrassing 6-1 defeat to Serbia last month.

It comes after Ramsey, 21, was critical of the Welsh FA's selection process for replacing the late Gary Speed and Wenger had also questioned giving his midfielder the captaincy at such a young age.

Arsenal boss Wenger said: "I am a little bit (surprised) because it's a big decision always to take an armband away from a player.

"He is a bit young with such a responsibility, but on the other hand, it could put maybe too much pressure on him that he's responsible for the big defeat they had in Serbia.

"You leave that to his manager, and to have a talk with Aaron. I think he will be a captain, for sure. Is it a bit early or not? I don't know well enough the character of the other players in the team."